Maharashtra’s newly appointed Minority Commission Chairman, Pyare Zia Khan, has drawn severe criticism for his unsubstantiated allegations against Urdu schools and minority educational institutions, where he claimed that ₹5,000 crore is misappropriated annually. His suggestion to revoke their minority status and conduct a sweeping survey has been dismissed as biased, discriminatory, and an attempt to malign the entire community’s educational institutions.
Sajid Nisar, General Secretary of the Urdu Shikshak Sangh, condemned Pyare Khan’s reckless statements, stating, “Wherever corruption exists, it must be curbed, but painting all minority institutions with the same brush is unacceptable.” He emphasized that while isolated cases of misconduct may exist, it is unfair and unethical to tarnish the reputation of thousands of institutions based on unverified claims.
Educationists argue that allegations alone do not constitute guilt and that Pyare Khan’s remarks appear politically motivated rather than based on evidence. Over 5,400 Urdu schools in Maharashtra serve lakhs of students, and undermining them through irresponsible accusations will only harm the education of marginalized communities. Critics warn that the Minority Commission should protect minority rights, not act as a tool for targeting them.
